The research asked the pivotal question - Why do dairy farmers continue to
farm? There is currently a lack of recognition for the social, cultural and
symbolic merits of family businesses, and the non-economic contributions made
to society. In critically reviewing the economic paradigm, which assumes man
acts rationally in a world of perfect information, economic theory ignores the role
of alternative forms of capital in acquiring power to conduct business
successfully. Using Bourdieu's concepts of field, habitus and capital offered
sociological insights into small family farm businesses.
Bourdieu's generic forms of capital allowed for the appraisal of not only economic
capital; but social, cultural and symbolic capital. A qualitative, mixed methods
approach was chosen, through a series of ten ethnographic case studies
conducted in Staffordshire. Bourdieu's work and qualitative methods allowed
the farm to be investigated as a collective social unit. Each case study consisted
of participant observation, interviews with the farmer, and where possible
spouses and children.
The work demonstrates that whilst policy tries to shape how agriculture is
conducted, it is not necessarily creating an environment in which farmers can
empower themselves, and their business operations; as powerful groups seek to
retain their position in the field (dairy industry). Sufficient levels of social, cultural
and symbolic capital are vital for family farm business success; defined in
economic (wealth) and non-economic (personal development, job satisfaction
and lifestyle) parameters. For the farming world, the work extends Bourdieu's
theory proposing the need to introduce natural capital. Nature's role in farming is
critical and farmers need to utilise and support natural systems. Despite farmers
losing control in their field, many have behaved in enterprising ways in order to continue the family farm business. However, farmers need to increase their
levels of all forms of capital in order to increase their power and position in
society. Consequently, farmers must also protect their levels of capital in order to slow down further decreases in their power in the field.

Description:

A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.